KARACHI: Traffic police authorities have approached the Sindh government seeking incentives for the public transport sector to overcome the transport crisis that emerged after the Sindh High Court imposed a ban on motorcycle-rickshaws, better known as Qingqis, in the city that has only 8,000 buses, minibuses and coaches catering to millions of people.

In a recent meeting between top officials of the Karachi traffic police and transport ministry, it was demanded that the transport sector be given industry status. “Moreover, it was suggested that transporters may also be given soft bank loans and subsidy to bring international-based transport facilities for the citizens of Pakistan’s most populous city,” said an official privy to details of the meeting and recent correspondence between the transport secretary and the deputy inspector general of traffic.

In a detailed proposal, the Karachi traffic police pleaded that the gap caused by a decrease in number of buses over the past decade was filled by illegal Qingis. Criticism against the ban on the illegal mode of transport was actually due to non-availability of public transport, the DIG said.

The meeting, he said, was told that there were 20,000 buses, minibuses and coaches in the city till 2000 but only 8,000 were operational at present. Also, the operational routes of public transport buses and minibuses reduced from 200 to 80 over the past decade, the officer said.

While imposing a ban on Qingqis across the province, the Sindh High Court earlier this month directed the provincial and city authorities, including traffic police, to ensure immediate legal action against the illegal vehicles.

The court noted in the judgement that the deteriorating traffic conditions in major cities of the province, particularly in Karachi, was because of unauthorised and illegal public transport, “particularly, the large number of Qingqi motorcycle rickshaws, which are being allowed on the roads with the connivance of the public functionaries, including traffic police, who appear to be either the beneficiaries or co-sharers of such illegal and illegitimate income.”

An immediate blanket ban further aggravated the city’s public transport crisis that pushed the Karachi traffic police to realise the severity of the situation and they managed to “convince” the authorities concerned for some immediate moves to address the public transport issues.

“The meeting went well,” said the official. “The authorities assured the transporters of support and also shared a plan to invite Chinese investors to collaborate with local players to increase number of buses and routes on city roads. Another meeting is likely to be called shortly to further discuss the particular subject.”

The meeting also discussed transporters’ point who shared their concerns over increase in fuel and vehicle prices, lack of incentives and insurance cover for the vehicles burnt in violence, and government apathy towards these issues that discouraged transporters to bring in new buses, minibuses or coaches in the city.

Published in Dawn August 18th, 2015

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